Excavating apparatus



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A TTORN In para??? ATTORNEY.

ril 26 1927. Ap w. A. wHrrMlRE EXCAVATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 13. 1923' Ak XMS N 1,626,1Jry

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ATTURAMH VV.AA. VVPirThdHE EXCAVATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 13. 1923 April 26', 1927.

v la 1 A pnl 26, 1927. w. A. WHITMIRE 626 019 EXCAVATING APPARATUS Orizirial Filed March 13. 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A TTORNEY.

April ze, 1927. 1,626,019

W. A. WHITMIRE EXCAVATING APPARATUS o rizinal Filed Maron 13. y1923 a 5hetssheet '7 A TTORNEY.

Apl 26 1927. 1,626,019

vW. A; WHITMIRE ExcAvATING APPARATUS original Fil'ed March 13, 1923 8 Sheet's-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

` ATTORNEY..

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

PATENT' OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. WHITMIRE, 0F BIG CREEK, CALIFORNIA.

nXoAvA'rINe APPARATUS.

Application filed March 13, 1923, Serial No. 624,864. Renewed September 25, 1926.

My invention relates to that class of excavating apparatus commonly known as muckingf7 machines, and more particularly to an apparatus especially designed for eX- cavating earth from shallow and narrow tunnels, and having associa-ted therewith suitable mechanism for delivering the excavated material to dump cars for transportation.

ln the excavation of tunnels, designed for hydraulic flawlines, transportation, and for other purposes, where little headV room is desired or needed7 excavating apparatus of the usual design cannot be economically utilized, owing to its structural design, as the earth removing clipper of such machines usually requires excessive head room for successful operation, as well as sufficient width so as to enable the mechanism to deliver the excavated material to the rear or side of the apparatus for convenient removal.

lt is an object of my present invention to provide an excavat'ng apparatus that will efiicently and economically operate in tunnels or bores of comparatively small cross sectional dimensions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism in which the material removing means is utilized to transport and deliver the excavated material to dump cars directly to the rear or side of the apparatus.

A further objectof my invention is to provide a mechanism in which the excavating dipper performs. the dual function of excavating the material and conveyng or transporting the same to the rear of the apparatus, the dipper or scoop when conveyii the material being disconnected from the excavating mechanism and performing the functions of a dump car.

rl`he above and other objects-of my invention will be more fully disclosed in the following specification, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the front section of my apparatus.

Fig. 1A is a side elevation of the middle section of the same.

Fig. 1B is a side elevation of the rear section of the same. y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of. the front section of the apparatus.

Fig. 2B is a plan view of the rear section of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.V Y

F ig. 4l' is a fragmental plan section taken approximately on the line Sirf-l of F :3.

By the above description of thev figures of the drawings7 itl will be observed that Figs. 1, 1A7 and 1B, when placed together constitute the entire side elevation` of the apparat-us, and Figs. 2, 2A, and 2B, when placed together constitute the entire plan view of the apparatus. It was found necessary to divide the views in this manner, due to the comparative great length of the apparatus with its height and width, and in order to bring out clearly the details of construction in a comprehensive manner.

ln carrying out my invention 5 represents a base comprising a truck of any desired con-V struction adapted to be propelled on rails secured to the tunnel door, 6 a swinging body structure mounted above the truck 5 and pivoted at 'Y thereto intermediate its ends. S a carriage frame mounted on the structural body 6 and adapted'for longitudinal n'iovement thereon, 9 a digging and conveying dipper adapted to excavat-e the earth and transport and dump it to the rear of the apparatus, and 11 a ram adapted to force the dipper forward to scoop up the earth und also to move the carriage frame 8 to which it is secured.

The truck 5 comprises a platform '12' preferably formed of sheet metal and suit ably braced by structural steel and supported thereby on the forward wheels 13 and the rear wheels lfl, said wheels being' propelled the'wheel shafts, and the sprocket wheels`19' and 2O secured to a transversely disposed shaft 21 journaled in bearings 22' secured to the truck frame.

The shaft 21 is provided with a worin gear 23A adapted to mesh with a worm 24 secure-Tl to one end-of a shaft 25 journaled in a bearing 2G which in turn is secured to' theti-'uck frame. Journaled loosely on the shaft is a Worm gear 27 which meshes with a Worm 28 secured to the crank shaft 29 of an engine 30 which is firmly secured to the truck llame and which preferably has compressed air for a motive power. The Worm gear 27 may be lreyed to the shaft 25 to revolve the same when is desired to move the truck along the rails, by means of a clutch mechanism 31, which comprises a slidable clutch collar 32, adapted to rotate with shaft 25 and to be slid thereon by means of the lever 33, to engage with the clutch membei' 34 secured to worm vvheel 27.

'lhe body structure 6 comprises a bottom plate :l5 to which is secured, adjacent its forward end, a transversely disposed casting 36 having journaled thereon a plurality of rollers 3? adapted to roll upon a plate 38 secured to the truclr 5, and it also has secured to it intermediate its ends a. turn table 239, through which the king' bolt 'i' passes, which rests upon a plate 4() secured to truck 5. .By his construction it ivill be obvious that the body 6 may be pivotally swung on the truclr, the forward end thereof being anti-frictionally supported on said truck, and in order that this swinging movement may be conveniently accomplished, the following mechanism is employed.

lie crank shaft 29 of engine 30 is provided With a pinion 4l which is loosely journaled thereon and mcsnes with a gear 42 secured to a shaft 43 journaled in bearings secured to the truck 5, the pinion 4l being, at the Will of the operator, locked in engagement with the crank shaft 29 by means of a Well known clutch mechanism 45 controlled by a lever 4 Secured to the shaft 43 is a drum 47 around which is Wound, in opposite directions, the cables 48 and 49 which pass around sheaves 50 and 5l journaled on truck 5, and have their free ends secured at and 53 to the cast-ing 3G of body (i.V By this arrf-"m'ement it will be obvious that when the engine cranlr shaft Q9 is geared to the drum b i means of the clutch mechanism 45 the body 6 will be caused to swing on the pivot 7. the direction of siving being controlled in the usual manner, by reversing the direction of the engine.

Extending upwardly from the bottom 35 of body 6 are the oppositely disposed side plates to which are secured the oppositely and longitudinally disposed angle irons 5G, 57, and 58, the top angle iron 58 having secured thereto the rails 5 The frame 8 comprises a platform G0, preferably formed of boiler plate, re-enforced by mea-ns of the transversely disposed bars Gl Which are spaced apart throughout its length, and journa-led on the ends of said bars are the rollers GQ Which ride on the rails of the body member G, and thereby support the frame and also permits of its have secured to their lower extremities thev angle irons 6G Which support a transverse shaft 67 having journaled on its ends rollers 68 which run on the angle irons 56, thus providing an additional support for the heavy frame 6.

hastened to and in between the angle irons 64 and 66 of the frame 6 are the forwardly extending oppositely disposed blocks 70 having secured therebetween a shaft Tl vvhich is held against revolution, and journaled on this shaft is a clipper elevating crane comprising a segmental racl; 12, which is split in its center, as clearly shown in F ig. 2 of the drawings, to form a passage therebetvveen for the admission of a cable, the purpose of which Will hereinafter be described. The rac-lr segments are provided With downwardly projecting flanges 74 and are joined together by means of a plate 75 which is secured to these flanges. Y

Journaled in bearing blocks 76 (see 3), secured between angle irons 64 and 66 is a shaft 77 to which is keyed the pinions 'T8 which mesh with the segmental gears 72, and also secured to the shaft are the gears '79 which mesh with pinions SO secured to t-he shaft 8l journaled in the bean ing blocks 76. Secured to shaft 8l is a gear 82 which meshes with a pinionSS secured to a. shaft 84 journaled Valso Vin the bearing blocks 76. Secured to shaft 84 areV the balance Wheels 85 to which the pi'tmen S6 are connected, said pitmen being connected to the cross heads F57 of an engine 88 mounted on a transverse channel iron S9 secured to the angle irons G5 of frame 6.

The train of gears above described are intended to provide a suitable lever r tween the engine 89 and the segmen.

7l, when the engine is started, to dispose -them in the position shown in dotted line lll() secured at one of its ends to a cross bar 94 ofV frame 6. Keyed to shaft V91 are the gearsl 95 which mesh with pinions 96Asecured to a shaft 97 journaled in bearings formed on the frame of engine 90. Secured to shaft 97 are the balance wheels 98 which are connected to the cross heads 99 of engine 90 by means of the pitmen 100. lt will be obvious that by the above recited mechanism the frame 6 carrying the segmental gears 72 and rails 63k may be moved backwardly and forwardly at the will of the engineer.

Secured to the plate 75 of segmental racks 72 are the op-positely disposed channel irons 101 which serve as rails for the wheels 102 of the dipperA 9, and are adapted to register with the rails 63 when the dipper is elevated by means of said racks.

The dipper 9 is of the usual construction, it being, provided with the dipper teeth 103 and the dump gate 104, which is hinged to a rod 105 Secured between ea-rs 106 secured tothe side wallsl of the dipper. A bar 107 extends between the ears 106, and centrally disposed thereon is a bumper knob 108. The gate 104 is held normally closed by means of the spring pressed la-tches 109 pivoted to the sides of the dipper and adapted to engage with the outwardly projecting ends of a. ban 110 secured to the gate as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The ends of oppositely disposed cables 112 are secured to pins 113 projecting from the sides ofthe clipper 9, and these cables pass over sheaves 114, journaled: on theY outwardy projecting ends ofthe shaft 71 secured to the oppositely disposed` blocks 70; and

from thence extend rearwardly and pass over sheaves 115 journaled on upright a-ngle irons 116 secured to-the rear of the framel posite ends of these cables are then wound around drums 118, secured to the ends ofV a shaft 119 extending from and driven by apair of rotary compressed air motor.: 120 andA 121 which are secured to a channel iron 122 secured to the platform 60 of frame 6.

Another cable 123, having one of its ends secured at 124 to the bottom of the dipper midway between its sides, passes over sheaves 125, 126, and 127 journaled on the segmental racks 72 and then over suitable sheaves 128, 129, 130 and 131 and the opposite end is then wound around a drum 132 secured to the motor shaft 119. The sheave 130 is mounted on a swinging arm 133 sov as to provide means for taking up the slack in t-he cable.

At the rear end of the frame 6 theA tracks 63 are provided with depressions 134 for the reception of the dipper wheels 102 during a dumping operation, and also extending transversely across thel frame are the bars 135 and 136, the bar 135 being adapted to engage with the dipper latch 109 to disengage it from the bar 110 and thereby permitting the gate 104 to open, andv the bar 136 bei-ng provided with a stop button 137 adapted to engage with the bumper button 108 of the dipper as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1]B of the drawings.

In the Aoperation of the apparatus, the dipper 9 is pushed forward to scoop up the dirt by means of the engine 90 which is coupled to the ram 11 through the leverage gearingpreviously described. At this time the entire frame 6 and mechanism secured thereto also moves forward. Then the dipper is filled, the engine 88- is started which through the intermediate gearing causes the segmental gears to rotate on the shaft 71, thus elevating the dipperA and tracks 101 tothe position shown in heavy dotted lines, (see Fig. 1). At this time the tracks 101 register with the tracksv 63.

The motor 120 (see F ig. 2A) is then started in motion which causes the drums 118 to rotate to wind up the cables 112 and thus dra-w the loaded dipper rearwardly, over the tracks 63, the motor 121 running idle at this time andA the cable 123 paying off the drum I dipper is caused to tilt, with the forward if* wheels as a pivot, until the bumper 108 contacts with the stop button 137, and at the same time the free ends of the latches109 strike against the bar 135 and are consequently disengaged from the gate bar 110,

whereupon the dirt in the dipper presses against' thel gate and; opens the same, thus permitting the dirt to yfall from the dipper intoi theI dump car 10 disposed under the dipper.

After the dirt has geen dumped from the dipper asV above described' the motor 121 is operated to lrevolve the drum 132 in an opposite4 direction to that which the drums 120f and 121 were previously operated, thus creating a forward pull on the cable123 and consequently` drawing the dipper forward,

the motor 120 runningA idle during this open ation.

After the dipper has ridden on the tracks 101, the engine 87 is operated to return the segmental gears and the parts carried thereby to their normal positions, whereupon the excavating and dumping operations may be repeated.

When it is desired to excavate the earth from the sides of the tunnel, the swivel mechanism comprising the drum 47 and cables 48 and 49, may be thrown into gear with the engine 30, by means of the lever 46 m JU and clutch mechanism controlled thereby, and thus the entire frame and mechanism supported thereon may be turned on the pivot 7 at any desired angle with respect to the truck 5.

By the employment of the apparatus above described it will be obvious that the earth may be excavated from the tunnel in front oi" the truck, at di'ferent levels, the dipper being moved upwardly or downwardly on the tracks 101 to accomplish this, or it may be excavated from either side of the tunnel when a Wide tunnel is desired. It will also be obvious that one or more dump cars may follow t-he truck, disposed directly behindl or on either or both sides of the saine.

lt will also be noted, that by the construction described, the apparatus may be operated in tunnels having limited head room and of narrow Width, due to the fact that no long dipper booms, sticlrs or lever bars are employed, and that the clipper is moved to the rear of the apparatus on substantially the saine level throughout its travel and directly above the apparatus which is comparatively short in height.

Although I have described each of the various steps of the apparatus as following one after the other, it will be apparent that at the discretion of the operator, these steps tudinal movement on said body, an elevat-v ing crane pivoted to said carriage frame, and a clipper mounted for movement on said carriage frame and elevating crane.

2. An excavating apparatus, comprising a wheeled truck, a body provided with rails pivoted intermediate its ends to said truck, a carriage frame provided with wheels adapted to run on the 1ails of said body and having rails mounted thereon, a clipper elevating crane provided with rails adapted to register with the rails of said carriage frame and pivoted on .said carriage frame, a digging and conveying clipper provided with Wheels adapted to run over the rails of said frame and crane, and means for independent-ly operating said truck, body, frame, crane, and dipper.

3. An excavating apparatus, comprising a wheeled truck, means for propelling said truck, an excavating mechanism supporting body pivoted on said truck intermediate its ends, motive means for swinging said body on its pivot, a digging and conveying dipper supporting carriage frame movably mounted on said body, means for reciprocating said frame on said body, a segmental rack pivoted on said frame, means ifor operating said segmental rack, a digging and conveying dipper mounted for reciprocal movement on said frame and segmental rack, and means for operating said dipper.

4. An excavating apparatus, comprising a. wheeled truck, a digging and conveying dipper elevating crane mounted for reciprocating and rocking movements on said wheeled truck, a digging and conveying dipper cooperating with said wheeled truck and crane, means for operating said crane, and means for moving said dipper on said wheeled truck and crane.

fin excavating apparatus, comprising awheeled truck, a digging and conveyingA dippergelevating crane mounted for reciprocating and rocking movements on' said wheeled truck, an engine mounted on said wheeled truck, leverage gearing interposed between said engine and said Acrane for reciprocating the same, an engine mounted on said crane, leverage gearing interposed between. said second mentioned engine and crane for rocking the same, a digging and conveying clipper cooperating with said wheeled truck and crane, a motor mounted to reciprocate with said crane, and cables interposed between said motor and clipper for moving the same on said crane and wheeled truck. y l

In witness thatvI claim the oregoino' I have hereunto subscribed my name sixth day of February, 1928.

YWILLIAr/I A. VVHITMIRE. 

